Expats Against Bush

RNC Protest: So far so good

I'd just like to post a brief note of thanks to the calmer heads who've prevailed this weekend (and hopefully continuing into the week) and staved off a full-scale confrontation in New York. My worst fears have thankfully not come to pass. Let's get this week's focus back on what it really ought to be: the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot. I'm worried about the latest poll numbers / electoral college standings - we need to get back into a clear lead, especially as this convention rolls to a conclusion and the Bush camp sees a "bounce."

We've still got a good couple months to go, mind.

RNC Protest: 5 days to go

The Guardian has a great piece by Gary Younge today on the runup to the Republican National Convention in New York, looking at all sides of the equation, and giving more time to the New York contingent than other pieces I've seen. There's also a funny public exchange between Norman Mailer and his son about my biggest fear, of violent protest boomeranging on us and delivering votes to the Bushies:

"If I were a voice in top Republican circles, I might be offering this advice: 'What we need for New York is a large-scale riot,' " wrote Norman Mailer in New York magazine recently, in a public written exchange with his son. "I don't have a great deal of hope that most of the people involved are really thinking of this election so much as expressing the need to vent, to gain some self-therapy."

"You do get a sense that the spiritual revolution may be awakening," replied his son, John Mailer, who believes that the protests could provide a focus for a huge anti-corporate movement. "All right," replied Norman. "But if we lose the election, it's going to be a very expensive spiritual education."

Are we oversaucing the goose? Is our fear of unknown consequences really justified?

Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who is planning on being in New York for the protests, or from any New Yorkers, on the runup to these protests. What's the word on the street? What are the concerns being voiced in meetings? How are the moderates faring against the radicals?

Message from Ron Kovic

I'm sure a lot of you remember meeting Ron Kovic during our march against Bush in London last November. Whilst corresponding with him about someone wanting to interview him, he passed along this message (edited for relevance and spelling/punctuation):

Dear Luke, of course I definitely remember you from London ...and the great march to Trafalgar Square that day with all of us leading the way!... I hope you're well [...] my very best to you Luke and all the other courageous American expats for peace in London, and all over Great Britain! Please keep up the good work, and know you will always have my full support! Have a great summer!

Most sincerely,
Ron Kovic

Well we certainly appreciate the support, Ron! Good to know we've got folks like you on-side.

Stop Bush

A simple but powerful concept for a website: Collecting images of grassroots street-level anti-Bush displays. Check it out.

Yesterday's protest

Thanks to everyone that came out yesterday and braved the very heavy handed (and arrest-happy) police cordon to picket Bush Senior's fundraising dinner for Dubya. I know it was an inconvenient time to have to come show support, but it was very much appreciated - and worth it.

Thanks also to everyone that chimed in with the press, as we got some good coverage from the AP, The Guardian, and, bizarrely, I believe I'm going to be on Iranian television news tonight. We also got namechecked by the Stop the War folks and by, er, George Galloway MP (is that a good or a bad thing?).

I was unimpressed by the fact that we got herded into a "free speech zone" - I'm sure it was partly to keep order as it was right outside the entrance to Marylebone Station, but you can't help but get the impression that this is business as usual where visiting (and controversial) US presidents are concerned. A man was arrested right in front of me for "breach of the peace" for refusing to protest inside the barricades, which was outright unnecessary and can only fan the flames of anger from the other protesters.

I've put up some pictures from the event here.

Tuesday anti-Bush protest details

Tomorrow's protest is taking place a little earlier than I had realised, due to the schedule of the pre-fundraising dinner cocktail reception.

The easiest thing to do is head for Marylebone Station's front entrance, which happens to be very close to the back entrance of the Landmark Hotel where this dinner is being held. Once there it should become immediately obvious where to go - you will see the crowds and a heavy police presence.

Once there, you should be able to pick out our "Proud of my country, Shamed by my president" placards fairly easily.

The general schedule should go something like this:

4:30PM - Gather for a picket of the event as the guests arrive.
5:30PM - Speeches from group leaders
6:30PM - Protest finishes

I hope all of you can still make it out despite the obvious inconvenience of the time. But we need to show these people that we don't appreciate this event happening here in the slightest.

As before, I think staying out of any trouble that might brew up and generally being respectful would serve all our interests best in the long run.

Reminder: Next Tuesday's Anti-Bush Protest

I'd just like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that next Tuesday the 18th is your opportunity to protest outside the Bush fundraising dinner compered by none other than Dubya's father, George Senior. The Stop the War Coalition are happy to have us join, and they've specially requested that we come out with our placards flying high - so make sure and bring yours! (more details here)

The Stop the War Coalition have also asked me to pass along word of their emergency protest on May 22nd in response to the Iraq prison abuse stories that have been coming out the last couple of weeks:

Emergency Demonstration - Saturday 22nd May 2004, 11am - Central London

End The Torture - Bring The Troops Home Now

The whole world is horrified at the terrible pictures of torture of Iraqi prisoners now emerging. They are the tip of an iceberg of abuse - dozens of civilians have died in custody of British and American troops in occupied Iraq.

The Stop The War Coalition correctly has responded to calls from groups and individuals, for a emergency demonstration to respond to the atrocities being committed in Iraq.

We are demanding the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and for the Iraqi people to be allowed to govern themselves.

Leaflets for the demonstration are available from the office. More details regarding the start of the demonstration will be circulated.

For further information please call 0207 053 2153/4/5/6 or e-mail [email protected]

Now I'm not sure where I stand on the whole "get the troops out now" demand - I'm not sure whether that would hurt or hinder the situation there - but you may well feel so inclined, and if so this is your opportunity to express your displeasure with the way things are unfolding.

March on Washington - April 25, 2004

Bush sure is uniting people, though maybe not in the way he'd hoped. As I can't afford to cross the pond these days, I hope someone reading this will go to Washington and hold up a sign for me!

Rather than post my own reasons for believing in this march, I'll let those that can go tell you themselves.

Saturday's demonstration

I had a chance to go along to Saturday's antiwar demo in London, and was joined by a few hardcore Expats Against Bush stalwarts who braved the gale-force winds and gamely attempted to keep from getting swept away whilst clinging onto their placards. Saturday's event was interesting in that although there were a fair number of protestors, it was much more of a "usual suspects" demonstration... a lot less of what you might call "soccer moms" and a lot more, erm, eccentric folks. It seemed like every other person was handing out pamphlets and/or screaming through a megaphone. Still a good show of force, mind.

I've got a web photo gallery up of the event here - video to come in the next couple of days when I get a chance to edit it down.

Tomorrow's anti-Blair protest

Several people have emailed and commented suggesting that Expats Against Bush have a presence in tomorrow's Stop the War protests in London. While this is not an anti-Bush march in the strict interpretation of the phrase, it is generally in line with most of our viewpoints on the war, and a repudiation of Blair's decision to help Bush invade Iraq does imply repudiation of Bush.

Therefore, while I'm not going to call an "all hands to battle stations" for this march, I'll be marching tomorrow nonetheless, and I've still got three of the old "Proud of my Country, Shamed by my President" placards that I'll be bringing with me. First two people to email me can lay claim to the spare two. Shall we say meet by the gatehouse at Hyde Park Corner at 11:30AM?